UNCTAD, through its Debt and Development Finance Branch (DDFB), works on analytical issues technical assistance, primarily in the areas of external and domestic debt.

UNCTAD began working on debt issues during the 1970s. As the debt situation of developing countries has evolved over the following three decades, DDFB has provided up-to-date analysis of the most important developments and emerging issues in international debt, and adapted its technical assistance to the changing needs of developing countries.

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News

Many of the world’s poorer countries have improved their debt balances in recent years, but “this positive trend is now sputtering,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi told a debt-management conference this morning. ​

Norway has completed a review of its loans to developing countries based on UNCTAD's Principles of Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing (the Principles) demonstrating the increasing importance of the Principles in setting international standards.